BLOOMINGTON, Ill - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team welcomes North Park University to Tucci Stadium Saturday, Oct. 30, for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Titans are eyeing a bounce back from a loss at No. 1 ranked North Central College Saturday, Oct. 23. IWU trailed by just six at halftime, but NCC erupted in the second half to put the Green and White's record at 2-5 overall and 2-4 in league play. Meanwhile, North Park enters the clash at 2-5 (2-4 CCIW) on the heels of wins over Carthage (33-30) and Elmhurst (45-3) the last two weeks.
Fans can tune into a road broadcast with Derek Bohlmann calling the action on the field alongside Joel Swanson. Live stats will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on the football schedule page of iwusports.com.

TALE OF THE TAPE: IWU holds an all-time record of 56-4 against North Park. The Titans have been even more dominant at home, owning a 33-0 record against the Vikings at Tucci Stadium. IWU has won each of the past five match-ups with the Green and White defense allowing an average of just seven points.
In the 2020 season against North Park, the Titans were victorious by a score of 42-7 at Tucci Stadium. Current sophomore quarterback Sage Shindler threw for 160 yards on 17 completions. Seth Albin rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns in that game, while Hamid Bullie rushed for 71 yards.

DEFENDING HOME TURF: In their three home games this season, the Titans have given up an average of 12 points. In the home opener, Sept. 4, 2021, IWU allowed 35 points to Franklin, but in the most recent two home games, the Green and White defense allowed three points to Elmhurst and a shutout of Millikin. The Titans own a 2-1 record at home this season.

HOME COOKING: The Titans are 119-48 (.713) at home since Norm Eash became head coach in 1987. IWU has won 18 of its past 22 home games dating back to the 2016 season.

RANKING IN THE CCIW: Through the seven games this season, Titan players rank near the top of the CCIW in many categories. Linebacker Skyler Metzger ranks third in the conference in tackles with 63, and second in tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Conor Murphy ranks second in sacks with 7.5, an average of 1.07 sacks per game.
    Offensively, Hamid Bullie ranks third in the conference in rushing yards with an average of 95 per game and Seth Albin ranks third in kick returns.

TITANS IN OCTOBER: The Titans have compiled a 98-52 (.653) record in the month of October under Norm Eash. More recently, in the past five seasons, IWU is 21-5 in October.

YEAR 130: In its 130th season, IWU has an overall 1,068-game record of 604-422-42 (.585 winning percentage). Of the 1,068 games, head coach Norm Eash has been involved in 370 of them (334 as a coach, 36 as a player from 1971-74).
    Illinois Wesleyan's 35-27 win at Albion on Sept. 13, 2014 was the 1,000th game in Illinois Wesleyan football history. The Titans notched the 600th win in program history with a 12-0 shutout of Augustana last season (March 27, 2021).

FOND MEMORIES: During the most recent match-up against North Park on April 10, 2021, IWU senior Mike Murphy set the school record for sacks in a single game. Murphy finished with eight tackles, six for loss, and a program record five sacks. His five QB takedowns pushed his career total to 25.5.

GLASS HALF FULL: Despite a 55-7 loss at North Central this past Saturday, the Titan defense held the No. 1 ranked Cardinals to their second-lowest point total of the season. IWU trailed North Central by six points at halftime, which was the second-closest halftime margin the Cardinals have faced this season. Seven points is also the second most points that the Cardinal defense has given up this year.

EXPERIENCED O-LINE: Illinois Wesleyan is slated to start five seniors across the offensive line in Jake Buhe, Nicholas Cyze, Jacob Finfer, AJ Lust, and Jake Tencza. One of the most experienced offensive line units in the country, the group has combined for 82 starts in 30 games.

200-WIN CLUB: Thirty five-year veteran Norm Eash is one of just nine coaches nationally in NCAA Division III with 200-or-more career wins. Eash, who has won 218 games as the head man at his alma mater, ranks sixth in the country among active head coaches.

ON THE HORIZON: The Titans will travel to McCully Stadium, Nov. 6, for a Saturday afternoon match-up with No. 6 Wheaton. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.